He Who Fights with Monsters, #3
He Who Fights with Monsters 3
by Shirtaloon
Contents
7. The Glory of Success or the Price of Failure
Overview
Bertrand takes charge of post-manifestation reporting while Jason’s team departs on their road contract under Henrietta, anticipating neglected villages and tough choices against bronze-rank monsters. En route, Clive suggests Thadwick divulged family secrets before reseeding and the team debates a looming surge. In parallel, the Builder cult reopens the Vane Estate site to anchor a portal into the astral space, a plan forecast to obliterate Greenstone when the bonds are severed.
Summary
After the wastewater elemental crisis, Bertrand assumes responsibility for reporting, casualties, and cleanup coordination. With their travel contract excusing them, Jason’s team departs Greenstone along the coast road, Henrietta clarifying her supervisory role and warning of neglected remote areas and likely bronze-rank postings. The group anticipates political fallout from Arella, but Henrietta notes Danielle’s oversight and contingency resources.
On the road, talk turns to Mercer politics: pressure that split Jason and Cassandra, and resentment from family elders. Neil shares that Thadwick’s relatives confided awkward details. Clive argues the Builder raids began too soon after reseeding, implying Thadwick gave up secrets before the seed dominated, whether by choice or under duress. Jason bluntly admits he would yield under torture.
They analyze signs of a potential monster surge: the silver-rank elemental with numerous subordinates, elemental composition, and long delay since the last surge. Clive cautions against assuming a catastrophic "dam break" but explains the world-membrane stakes. Henrietta recounts Builder devastation elsewhere, including a city of twelve thousand lost, while Clive notes people remained inside the sealed astral space and others seek reentry. Jason withholds that Shade believes a future portal may be possible once Jason advances.
Meanwhile, Zato, the cult’s last local silver-ranker, returns with Timos to the stripped ritual chamber beneath the Vane Estate. Using a brass inlaid circle and glyph-etched brick archway, they target a planted beacon to establish an astral bridge. Facing punishment for failure, they plan to send everyone through and claim the disconnected astral space.
Zato reveals that breaking the Reaper-derived bonds will unleash catastrophic backlash, erasing Greenstone and everything within a hundred kilometers of Sky Scar Lake. Timos briefly balks at the death toll before acquiescing, asking if Thadwick can be left behind as they finalize preparations.
Who Appears
- Jason AsanoTeam member; debates politics and torture, keeps secret a possible future method to reenter the astral space.
- Henrietta RemoreSupervises the team; outlines neglected regions, reassures about oversight, recounts Builder devastation.
- CliveResearcher; explains surge mechanics, disputes dam-break fears, suspects Thadwick shared secrets pre-seeding.
- Humphrey GellerChallenges Jason’s views; senses events building toward something larger, travels with the team.
- NeilHealer; met with Thadwick’s family, joins surge debate and group banter.
- SophieQuestions surge significance; critiques aristocratic privilege and supports Jason.
- BelindaNewcomer; anxious about bronze-rank foes, reacts to reports of cult devastation.
- Bertrand BertinelliSilver-rank adventurer; assumes reporting, casualties, and cleanup after the elemental incident.
- ZatoBuilder cult silver-rank leader; reactivates Vane Estate portal, plans to claim the astral space.
- TimosBuilder cultist; worries about risk but complies, contemplates leaving Thadwick behind.